Moving-picture machine.



A. J. R, MAQSGUGALL I MOVlNG HCTURE MACHINE.

APPLICATION mm 19x3.

Pateni'e Aug. 29, 1916.

WITNESSES flM/M?) (1 0"! w m. n

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, this character which is .refer to similar 4 is a. sectional view taken on ABRAHAM J. MACDOUGALL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MOVING-PICTURE MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 9, 1913. Serial No. 783,880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ABRAHAM J. R. MAo- DoiicAnL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at 159 Nowell street, Lrooklyn, New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in l\[oving--Picture'Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention. relates to moving picture machines and lnore particularly to safety devices for preventing the film from catching fire during the operation of the machine.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide means for preventing the film from catching fire if the film breaks or if the feeding of the film is not uniform.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be readily placed in position upon moving picture machines such as are. now in use.

Another object is to provide a device of cheap to manufacture, which is simple in construction and operation and which is not likely to get out of order.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings showing an illustrative embodiment of this invention and. in which the same reference numerals parts in the several figures, Figure l is a vertical sectional view of the device. part of a moving picture machine being indicated for the sake of clcarness. Fig. 2 a view in rear elevation of the device. Fig. 3 is a detail. view oi the upper part of the device in front elevation. Fig. the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings. 1 represents the casing of a moving picture machine of any suitable construction. provided with feeding and guiding devices 2. by means of which the film t, is fed and guided from one magazine to the other in the usual manner. 4 represents the well known shutter which is adapted to close automatitailly when the speed of the feeding mechanism drops below a certain 1 1edetermined limit. As this shutter may he of any known type, further illustration is unnecessary. Shutters of this character are effectual for preventing the film from catching fire when the speed of the feeding mechanism drops belowa. certain limit, but

in cases where the film breaks, or is unevenly fed for any reason, and at which time the speed of the feeding mechanism does not drop below the Inedetermined limit, a shutter of this type will not act to prevent the film from catching fire, as It "w .i be held open by reason of the fact that the mechanism is running at its regulation speed. The danger of the film catching fire vby reason of its breaking, or its uneven feeding is overcome by the device constructed in accordance with this invention, and which will now be described.

5 represents a. casing of any suitable conformation adapted to be held in position between the source of light and the film in any suitable manner. preferably by supporting it on the machine casing. The casing 5 is provided with an aperture 6 through which the light from the source of illumination passes to the film, and which aperture is in registry with the aperture controlled by the speed-controlled shutter 4-. A shutter 7 is pivotally mounted upon the casing 5 and is normally held closed in any suitable manner. as by gravity. Operatively connected to the shutter T is an arm 8 with which one end of the arm 9 of a bent lever 10 is adapted to engage. The casing 53. is, as shownin the drawing. provided with a slot 11 through which the end of thearm 9 extends as clearly illustrated in Fig. l. The bent lever 10 is pivotally supported in any suitable manner and adjacent its lower end it is provided with a transversely extending portion carrying a roller 12 which rotates freely thereon.

The lever 10 normally occupies the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. in which position the end of the arm 9 is drawn backward. thus allowing the shutter 7 to fall and close th v aperture 6. \Vhen the film is passed through the feeding mechanism, however. it will engage the roller 12 and due to the tension of the film the lever 10 will be forced to occupy the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, in which position the end of the arm 9 will, by co-acting with til. arm 8, hold the shutter 7 in its open position, thereby permitting the rays of light to pass through the apcrturefi. As the roller 12 against which the film engages. rotates loosely upon the lever 10 there will be no wear on the film as of course there will be no friction between it. and the roller.

As long as the film remains intact and is Patented Aug. 29, 191.6.

fed properly the tension of the same will hold the lever 10 in this position. If the film should break, or if for any reason the feeding of the film becomes irregular, the pressure of the film against the roller will cease and the lever 10 will. then, through gravity assume its normal position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, allowing the shutter 7 to drop and intercept the rays of light which pass through the aperture 6, thus preventing the film from catching fire.

By employing this shutter in connection with the usual speed regulated shutter it will be seen that the danger of the lilm catching fire is reduced to a minimum, lit the speed of'the feeding mechanism drops below the predetermined value, the shutter T will automatically close, while it, on the other hand the speed does not drop below the {undetermined value. but the feed of the film becomes irregular or the film breal i, the shutter 7 will tilltOlYlZltlCflllX close. in either case, therefore, the rays of light which from the source of illumination to the will beintercepted.

Having described this invention in. connection with the illustrative embodiment thereof to the details of which disclosure he invention. is oi course not to be limited. what is claimed as new and what is desired to be secured. by Letters Patent set forth in the ap' 'iended claims:

1. In a moving picture machine in combiuation, a swinging lire shield suspended normally from a horizontal pivotal a: operative po. tion intci posed between source o! light and the film. t int-croept t .c rays of light, and a uiovalilo memheuada yted to contact with. under normal tcnsioi'i to thereby in operative position move automatically pass he maintained and. adapted to into inoperative posi;

' tion when released by a slaclc occurring in set angularly *rctch ol the lilm when memos pm, a POI'LlOll of said member being disl the path of movement of a part of the shield below its pivotal axis and adapted upon. movementof the said member into operative position to force the shield. into tilted inope 'ativc position resting upon said member.

In a moving picture machine, in (20111.lnation, a swinging the shield suspended normally from a h i rizontal pivotal axis in operative position interposed between the source of light and the film to intercept the rays oil. light, said shield having an arm otl'- with respect to the shield proper, and a movable member adapted to contact with a stretch of the film when under normal tension to be maintained thereby in operative position wherein it contacts with the shield arm at a point situated below its pivotal axis to siu'iport the shield in tilted in operati vc pos. 1011.

in a movingpicture mach inc, in combinatioin a swinging lire shield suspended normallv from a horizontal pivotal axis in operative position. interposed between the son cc of light and the him to intercept the ra, 3 of light, and a pivoted men'iher having two arms, one oi said arms being adaptedto Contact with a stretch oil the lilin when un tension to maintain the said operative position wherein its der normal member in 7 other arm dispo l in the path oi move ment of a part of the shield and contacts with the same at a point below pivotal axis and supports it in tilted inoperative position.

in testimony whereof I have signed my muuc to this sprinrutiou in the presence of two suhsrribing witnesses.

lll'tli'l If. R MAo/DOUGALL. ll itnc. s:

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